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WI Centenary Baton

Centenary celebrations began on 1 January 2014 for WI members everywhere as the specially designed Centenary Baton officially began its journey around the UK. The Baton, launched in Anglesey where the first WI meeting was held in the UK in 1915, is now travelling throughout the 69 federations in England, Wales and the Islands to celebrate the links of friendship and community developed through the WI, and will finish its trip at the Annual Meeting in June 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Baton will travel the length and breadth of the UK to visit every federation, and will form the start of the WI's centenary celebrations as each federation plans a celebratory event to involve as many WI members as possible. Plans to celebrate its arrival and travel through each area are as varied as the members themselves; some will take the Baton through town centres on open-top buses, on a speed boat, and on specially arranged walks and to parties, with the aim of involving as many members as possible in the biggest WI party. To find out more about the centenary celebrations around the country and to see photos of what other federations have been getting up to click here.

The Centenary Baton's Journey through Worcestershire

Click on the individual thumbnails to see larger photos.

Tuesday 9 September 2014

Wednesday 10 September 2014

12pm: Malvern Group are intending the Baton exchange to begin at British Camp. They then will travel to the Elgar Statue and Well on Belle View Terrace. Tea and cakes will be at Lady Foley's Tearoom on Malvern Station. They may have access to a Morgan car if they are fortunate enough, you will have gathered that they are attempting to include all that promotes Malvern. At the end of the day they have to take the Baton to Upton upon Severn for 6pm as Severn Group have organised a boat trip.

7pm: Severn Group will take the Baton down the River Severn, accompanied by 100 WI Members on MV Conway Castle, leaving Upton Waterside at 7pm and returning at 9pm.

Thursday 11 September 2014

At 1.45pm: Severn Group will be taking the Baton from Upton to Pershore in a Morgan Car convoy and handing it over to Pershore Group at 2.30pm in Pershore High Street.

2pm - 5pm: Evesham, Pershore and Lenchton, Redditch & Saltway Groups will be at St Andrew’s Hall and the garden surrounding the hall in Pershore. The Baton will arrive from the Severn group at 2.30pm, in a Morgan Car. The Town Crier will announce its arrival. It will be received on behalf of the three groups by the longest serving WI member in those groups. Each will receive a small posy as a thankyou.
There will be competitions – flower arrangement in a tea cup / lemon drizzle cake / name the doll / Tombola. Entry fee - 50p. There will be live music in the hall and boules and croquet available . Everyone will be able to have tea / coffee and cake free of charge.There will be a table depicting the past, present and future of the WI.At 3.30pm the celebration cake made and iced by 2 Kington with Dormston Members will be cut.
The youngest member will hand on the Baton to the Worcester Group on the Friday morning and will be taken in a modern car.

Friday 12 September 2014

11.00am until 3.00pm: Worcester and Elgar Groups are holding an event in the Guildhall.The Baton will be received at the Elgar Statue from Pershore Group and there will be a parade to the Guildhall. All the members have been invited along for a chat and refreshments, and there will be demonstrations, craft stalls, and updates of our campaigns.
The day is being used as a promotion opportunity and will hopefully attract some new members.The Baton will be sent on to Woodbury Group by the Worcester Rowing Club, who will take the baton to The Camp at Grimley.